Behind those blue and red eyes

The second encounter: Daffodil

Silence surrounded the forest like a white thin mist and a soft cold spread from the ground. Seated on the vine swing, Lavender let out a sigh. The presence behind him was too obvious to not be noticed. Some moments ago, all the insects and lizards went quiet and a static sound filled with its distortion the environment. All at once the world was telling him something was wrong; a predator was behind him.

The uneasy sensation went down his spine and his hands shake a little; it would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid. He already knew the threatening red and blue eyes fixed in him like the mortal bite of a boa. The last time he found himself in front of those eyes let him with a sour taste in the mouth. He needed time to understand what had happened last time: there were two Poppies, or at least for a moment there were, and the stranger had taken one of them. One exact copy of his brother in those hands, a Poppy he knew, deep in his heart, was now dead.

His mind was just coming to terms with the idea of his brother scared and alone, trembling in and yet unknown place; he just had started to comprehend the twisted reality he has left him in. He asked himself if Poppy was waiting for him to show up and rescue him, if he has left his brother to die. Lavender felt sick; one needs a lot of time to comprehend those things.

A cloud let a light touch Lavender's eyes and he asked himself if he could forgive this stranger, if it was even worth forgiving him when he was capable of hurting one of the most important beings for him. The cloud covered the light once again and in the shadow that follow it, he felt a cold sensation travel through his body. He looked his hand; he repaired in the whited purple of his bones. With that same hand he could invoke his Gaster Blasters, with the same hand he could scare this stranger out of Nature Tale for once and for all.

He knew how to fight; as almost any Sans in the multiverse he had the duty securing his world, in a silenced and exhausting work with almost no recompence. He could fight, but didn't want to do it; fighting was exhausting and hurt, always, both sides. Was it wort it to do it this time? was there enough reasons to fight him? Thistle seemed to think there were, but knowing his friend inclination to violence make it not a fair argument.

The truth was that for some reason he couldn't hate this stranger. He looked almost scared when he approached him, he looked almost sorry. Those big eyes seemed so troubled and alone. He could not bring himself to hate someone so despaired for comprehension. He reminded him of the humans he had to confront before; the same eyes that Buttercup use to have, whit their hands covered in blood and the weapon trembling in them; the same eyes Thistle himself had when he came from Nature Fell, with dust fresh in his coat.

One recures to violence in a world full with violence, one kills someone when doesn't see another option on the table. That was a believe Lavender tried to hold always in his head. Buttercup and Thistle transformed in kind and loving people when they encountered love and compassion in Nature Tale. Maybe that stranger needed that; maybe behind that cold and scared look lied a beautiful monster waiting to come afloat. Yes, though Lavender as he looked up to the green leaves of the tree, it was worth it to wait for a new friend to come near.

A firefly attempted to fly towards his nose and he received it with a chuckle. His hand was not ready to invoke bones, he preferred to use it to grow more flowers in the flower crown of chrysanthemum he held in his other hand. The yellow petals bloomed in a mesmerizing pattern that make his eyes felt dizzy. This one was prettier than the last one, the chrysanthemum grows bigger under the influence of his magic, alive and happy. Those flowers mean friendship, welcoming, happiness and well being. This was his intention with this encounter.

He wanted to show this stranger that everyone that comes to Nature Tale will be received with love and kindness, that he doesn't need to fear anyone here, that if he wanted, he could come and free himself there. The firefly star played with the petals of the chrysanthemums, like a child that runs in front of candy, it crawled inside them and dance between the flowers. Soon another one joins in, and then another and another, till there is a dozen of them flying around him. He laughs again letting them play with his own lavender's flower crown.

He asked himself if this stranger will appreciate this present, if he even understood what they mean. He turned his head a little so he can see the glitching figure behind the tree, and in a second the figure was hidden fully so he couldn't see him. Seems like his shy companion wouldn't want to talk that night, so he would have to manage the interaction another way.

He once heard of a kid who domesticated a fox just by seating close to him; every night he would sit a little closer till he was just beside his new furry friend. Maybe this stranger was his fox, maybe he showed his fangs just because of nervousness and he'll just have to make him comfortable with his presence.

He looked his present again in the light of the night, felling like something was missing, he felt like he wasn't truthful enough, like he was lying. Was he lying? He still wanted to know this stranger, he wanted to understand him, but... The knot in his throat grows bigger with the tough, its not easy to forget, and he wasn't forgiving.

He held magic again in his hand and with the clear image of Poppy in his head. He let the magic flow through every one of his bones, and then flow out of his fingertips like a soft current. It felt like a soft heat coming from deep in his chest, like what happiness feels. Soon a stream of white and yellow flowers appeared on his lap. He took one of them and looked it closely, he smiled to himself; now everything made sense.

The flower he held was placed in between two chrysanthemums, and he started to move his hands in sync slowly but firmly placing more and more tiny white flowers facing all directions. His bones separated the flower's stems and twisted to fit the tight knots of the crown that soon seemed more live than ever. With a flow of his magic, he made the leaves of the flowers bigger and the flowers shinier.

He smiled proudly looking at the new flower crown. This was a new start, for both of them, so he would let go all his feelings out of his chest. Someday maybe the stranger will tell him all about what happened that night, someday he may be able to forgive him; but now he'll just accept the moment as it was.

He got up from the vine swing leaving the flower crown behind. "Those are for you" he said in a quiet voice, "I'm going now, so you can make yourself comfortable and take them with you" A moment of hesitation, "Just don't give us any more surprises". He waved his hand "Good night".